What all new dtg owners need to do is install color management policies in your business that will allow you to match the customer’s color expectation with the output of your dtg printer. One of the first things I would recommend you doing is printing a color chart out on different substrates and colors. The color charts will help your client understand the colors achievable from your dtg printer and will show how colors can be affected if you don’t use a white ink underbase on a color garment. Some dtg printers come with a built-in color charts in their printing software, but for those dtg printers that don’t have color charts…click on this link to download these two Color Charts packages – that contain a 510 color chart (size 8.5” x 11”), 2040 color chart (size 11” x 17”), a PDF of RGB Values and a corresponding color swatch / palette - http://www.multirip.com/colormanagement.html.
PRINTING TIP: When you print your color charts, make sure that you know exactly what settings you used in your printing software so you can accurately reproduce the same colors when you go to reproduce the customer’s artwork. It is best to include the settings at the bottom of the color chart so you know what the exact settings were. You will probably want to get the customer to select the color on your color chart or compare it to a printed sample from the customer.
Almost all graphic software programs allow you to adjust some color settings (i.e. mode, embedded profiles, rendering intent,…). Some dtg manufacturers will have you turn off the color management engine in you graphic program and allow the printing software program (i.e. the print driver or RIP) to handle the color value conversions. Please make sure that you speak with your dtg manufacturer or distributor to make sure that you know the appropriate color management settings to get the best colors.